Angela - an actress who appeared in two Bond films - had been suffering from bowel cancer.

She was taken to hospital from an address in Maida Vale, west London, after police were called at about 1.50pm.

A police spokesman said: "Ambulance services attended and the woman was taken to a central London hospital where she was pronounced dead at 17.28.

"Next of kin are aware. A post-mortem will be held in due course. Her death is currently being treated as unexplained and officers from Westminster are investigating."

Angela married Carry On star Leslie in 1982. She played Lady Agatha Shawcross in the TV series You Rang, M'Lord? and Cathy in a 1967 production of Wuthering Heights.

Other credits include The Avengers, Penmarric and in 1996 in As Time Goes By.

She appeared in two Bond films - as Buttercup in Casino Royale in 1966 and as Ruby Bartlett in On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969. Other film roles included A Countess From Hong Kong (1967), featuring Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1968) and British comedy Doctor In Trouble, in which Phillips also starred, in 1970.

A representative for the actor said: "It is with great sadness that we must confirm Leslie Phillips' wife Angela Phillips (nee Scoular) passed away yesterday.

"The family have requested that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."